Loosing/ LOST faith in this company. Century helicopters

[johnnychimpo]

No email responses for my inquiry on the 3D Pro parts availability. All i need are some stupid head axles but no vender has these items or they are out of stock.

Why does this company doesn't make any replacement parts for their micro helicopters is beyond me. I feel left out and disappointed in my choice to buy any heli from Century. Little or no support and every time i call someone on the phone says, " The end of the month we should have parts" Its been almost a year now!

I bet their high end line of helis has plenty of parts available. Seems like they only make parts for the swift.

[dave peers]

i posted a bit on the forum but guess what did i get a reply m8 ????
NADA ! ZIP, NIL, NOPE.
Why oh why will they not fess up and speak to their customers! ! !
have i dun it again dad have i ? :arggg: :dontknow

[johnnychimpo]

STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY if you are serious about helicopters. This company does not care if you need parts. They dont respond to emails and their tech support lies constantly telling you that parts will be in at the end of the month. This at lease runs true from my experience with the 3d pro line.

You will be able to find kits or complete helis, but finding replacement parts for their existing line will be difficult at best. Buyer beware! :arggg: :arggg: :arggg:

[Jafa]

I found out they have pretty strick spam filtering
So send emails in plain text and don't put attachments or links in the email
I believe they get a lot of emails - so three day turn around is pretty typical
I've generally had satisfactory responses and service
but it's been slow and I have sometimes had to answer their questions
three times before they actually get the reply

Certainly not ideal - but not impossible

I fly the Predator - no experience with the 3D Pro

[dave peers]

:arggg: :arggg: :arggg: :arggg: i am still awaiting head shafts !!!!
5 weeks now!!!!!for a pred se
perchased 3 main shafts for stock had to return 1 cos it was rusty with dirty great pits along its length :bomb:
the shaft that comes in the kits is finnished nicely :glasses2:
but the replacement after market shafts are unfinnished i have HAD TO clean them with tulip paper and oil to get a reasonable finnish and remove the rust ,and yes it was rust not a protective coat applied to the shaft.
it should have been like the kit one, chemical black finnish !!!!!! :dontknow

[Mutt]

I have absolutly no problems with century. First off your over in the uk you wont get much support for there you will have to go to a hobby shop that sells thier stuff. They do have support for thier customers and good support. I myself will always have a century heli. As far as micro helis electric ones go I wont waste my time on them but thats another story. COntact your local hobby shop that sells thier stuff.

[RAV50]

I have had and still have, a number of Century Helicopters over the years, Hawks, Falcons, Ravens, Predators and now the electric Swift, and some of their micro electrics. The ONLY models I have ever had problems getting parts for, were some of their micro helis (3D Pro). No problems with their little fixed pitch hummer.

As they have always been more into nitro and the larger helis, I think their micro heli planning for parts may have been left a bit off on the left.

That being said, I have even had greater problems getting some parts for any other micro 3D helis that perform as well as my 3D pro does.

P.S. I think the head axles for the BlackHawk 3D are the same.

[Wheelhaus]

I have only read of supply problems with the 3d Pro for some reason it sometimes seems impossible to get replacement parts for it... But all other helis they make are very well supported.

I wouldn't scratch Century off the list simply because of problems with one model.

Other than the 3d pro, their customer service is fantastic.

[johnnychimpo]

Scratched off all ready. Too many competitors our there to give them another chance. Sorry Century, you lose another customer. Time is up.

[Seaking]

I have absolutly no problems with century. First off your over in the uk you wont get much support for there you will have to go to a hobby shop that sells thier stuff. They do have support for thier customers and good support. I myself will always have a century heli. As far as micro helis electric ones go I wont waste my time on them but thats another story. COntact your local hobby shop that sells thier stuff.

Glad that you have no problems with Century LOL but You have never heard of Century UK I take it???
The Century support over the years has at times been disaponting for quite a few Check out the forums
And before you get all hot and bothered All bar one of my heli's is Century and current count is 9
Over the years I have had both good and bad Service from Century no different from any other shop

[philiusm]

Hi,

I have ordered a lot of parts for my Swift 16 from Century UK in the past few months. The only item that seems to have been in short supply was main wooden blades, I probably bought them all.

They suggested a sport blade equivalent which seems to make the helicoper more stable.

While their service certainly isn't next day, it normally takes a few days for them to process the order, they do seem reliable.

I think part of the delay is caused by the awful performance of the Royal Mail. I have had parcels delivered on the Monday and the postman has said, "We should have come out with this one on Saturday".

One thing that may make the difference is that I always phone my order through and the sales guy checks stock levels there an then.

Regards,

Phil M

[Mutt]

Glad that you have no problems with Century LOL but You have never heard of Century UK I take it???
The Century support over the years has at times been disaponting for quite a few Check out the forums
And before you get all hot and bothered All bar one of my heli's is Century and current count is 9
Over the years I have had both good and bad Service from Century no different from any other shop

Well I cant speak for any UK distribution as for one it wouldnt and dont apply to me at all. I am only 65 70 miles from century here in cali I can either drive over or call them up have my parts the next day most of the time. Never had a issue with them and will always have at least one century product.

[aevans692]

A friend of mine is having trouble with parts, he has the GL450 se , which to me looks the same as a trex 450 se.. anyway he has had a hard time getting bits , their web site are always out of stock or the part is not listed, shops who stock century stuff have not had the bits either, and these are common parts like main shaft, spindle,servos . . .

This has become a bit of an issue as my mate is still in the first learning stage and as with most we tend to crash more then..

in some cases he has been able to use trex450 parts..

[Mutt]

A friend of mine is having trouble with parts, he has the GL450 se , which to me looks the same as a trex 450 se.. anyway he has had a hard time getting bits , their web site are always out of stock or the part is not listed, shops who stock century stuff have not had the bits either, and these are common parts like main shaft, spindle,servos . . .

This has become a bit of an issue as my mate is still in the first learning stage and as with most we tend to crash more then..

in some cases he has been able to use trex450 parts..

And this has what to do with century helicopters??

[wren1702]

The GL450 SE is a Century product marketed in Europe.

[aevans692]

And this has what to do with century helicopters??


Tut Tut. Tut... Someone don't know their helis. . . I even mention "shops who stock century stuff" , don't worry joined up thinking comes latter.



http://www.centuryuk.com/Products/Helicopters+Pre-Assembled/GL450SE

[Mutt]

Show me where on the century site they have a heli with a designation as a 450se thats an aling model if I recall and if that is what your reffering to that is not a century product. http://www.centuryheli.com/products/index.htm and if they call it a century product in the uk no I wont know about it since i dont live nor order nor read anything from the uk I have no reason to or desire to.

[wren1702]

Show me where on the century site they have a heli with a designation as a 450se thats an aling model if I recall and if that is what your reffering to that is not a century product. http://www.centuryheli.com/products/index.htm and if they call it a century product in the uk no I wont know about it since i dont live nor order nor read anything from the uk I have no reason to or desire to.

See post above yours.........:roll:

[aevans692]

Show me where on the century site they have a heli with a designation as a 450se thats an aling model if I recall and if that is what your reffering to that is not a century product. http://www.centuryheli.com/products/index.htm and if they call it a century product in the uk no I wont know about it since i dont live nor order nor read anything from the uk I have no reason to or desire to.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Mutt View Post
And this has what to do with century helicopters??

Tut Tut. Tut... Someone don't know their helis. . . I even mention "shops who stock century stuff" , don't worry joined up thinking comes latter.



http://www.centuryuk.com/Products/He...embled/GL450SE
__________________
Trex 450se Raptor Titan 50

Trex 600nitro PRO


I know I said about joined up thinking , you should learn a bit of joined up reading too....


http://www.centuryuk.com/Products/He...embled/GL450SE
http://www.centuryuk.com/Products/He...embled/GL450SE
http://www.centuryuk.com/Products/He...embled/GL450SE


MUtt now please visit the link above.. 450 is not a trex thing it is a size thing any one can make a 450 size heli, the SE also means Superior edition and any one can make that too....

matters not if your in the uk or any where in the world , if you are going to pass a sh1thy comment then at least have an idea what one is talking about..

[RAV50]

This is what I think is happening here.

From touring the CenturyUK site, it seems rather obvious that CenturyUK is a company that is not owned by the manufacturer Century Helicopter Products of the USA, but is rather a British owned R/C distribution company that distributes many items, many aren't even related to helicopters. They also seem to be the UK distributer for the genuine Century helicopters that are manufactured by Century Helicopter Products of the USA.

It is clear to me that the heli in question IS NOT a product made by Century Helicopter Products of the USA. The helis CHP manufacture are great helis, such as the Hawk Pro, Raven 50, Predator Max, Predator Gasser and the Swift electric series.

It seems that CenturyUK is a company that may have registered the name "Century" in the UK so use it on a number of different products that are not even manufactured by the real company.

Notice the name does not even say Century GL450SE it just says GL450SE. On the other hand in the section of "Helicopter Kits" all the Century helis are prefixed with the name "Century" in front of them. e.g. Century Swift 16, Century Hawk Pro etc. etc.

Seems CenturyUK is playing a bit of "miss-lead" here.

If I were CHP, I would certainly try to stop this UK company from using their name on such product.

So any parts problem you may have with the GL450SE has NOTHING to do with the real Century company that this forum is for.

So if I can make a suggestion. Maybe you should ring CenturyUK and ask them who manufactures the GL450SE for them and order the parts required directly from them (I would bet a years income that that heli is manufactured somewhere in China by an oblique OEM manufacturer.)

[redneckteddy103]

the centuryuk thing has nothing to do with century helicopters except it sells there products .....

century helicopter products are a usa based company and has a manufacturing plant over seas .
centuryuk ltd is a joke any how i know a few people that have ordered from them and what ya order aint what ya get and its a big hassel all together ect.

1 friend ordered the blaze cp and was sent a lama and spent 3 months trying to get it fixed to no avail

[aevans692]

This is what I think is happening here.

From touring the CenturyUK site, it seems rather obvious that CenturyUK is a company that is not owned by the manufacturer Century Helicopter Products of the USA, but is rather a British owned R/C distribution company that distributes many items, many aren't even related to helicopters. They also seem to be the UK distributer for the genuine Century helicopters that are manufactured by Century Helicopter Products of the USA.

It is clear to me that the heli in question IS NOT a product made by Century Helicopter Products of the USA. The helis CHP manufacture are great helis, such as the Hawk Pro, Raven 50, Predator Max, Predator Gasser and the Swift electric series.

It seems that CenturyUK is a company that may have registered the name "Century" in the UK so use it on a number of different products that are not even manufactured by the real company.

Notice the name does not even say Century GL450SE it just says GL450SE. On the other hand in the section of "Helicopter Kits" all the Century helis are prefixed with the name "Century" in front of them. e.g. Century Swift 16, Century Hawk Pro etc. etc.

Seems CenturyUK is playing a bit of "miss-lead" here.

If I were CHP, I would certainly try to stop this UK company from using their name on such product.

So any parts problem you may have with the GL450SE has NOTHING to do with the real Century company that this forum is for.

So if I can make a suggestion. Maybe you should ring CenturyUK and ask them who manufactures the GL450SE for them and order the parts required directly from them (I would bet a years income that that heli is manufactured somewhere in China by an oblique OEM manufacturer.)

what you are saying is very true, I have just called them up and asked them, they are in fact a totally separate company who are in affiliation with century, This is very mis-leading as I honestly thought that century uk was part of century , I stand corrected . . . . humble pie...mmmmm .


well the same probs from century , seemed to of carried across..lol.

[RAV50]

I think we are lucky in Canada, as we do not seem to have any issues getting parts from a number of hobby shops that we deal with here for our Century helis.

Yet I have had a number of issues getting parts for some of my other brands of helis.

[Rallye 150]

Tut Tut. Tut... Someone don't know their helis. . . I even mention "shops who stock century stuff" , don't worry joined up thinking comes latter.



http://www.centuryuk.com/Products/Helicopters+Pre-Assembled/GL450SE

Hi,

Sorry, could not let this one go! Found it by accident, while looking for another site. I am a former commercial helicopter pilot and current fixed wing PPL, Pegasus Flash microlight, Socatta Rallye 150ST, Piper Twin Commanchie. I am crap (to put it mildly) with R/C helis, but I have a love affair with anything that flies. I have to say that I am not that good with the model flying world, but was recently introduced to the electric heli. Yes, I did have the Hirobo Shuttle, years ago, which was great to play with in the garden and I have a large one, (garden that is). Just to say that my experiance with the GL450SE, (whoever makes it) has been great, their technical info "on the phone", is second to none and the supply of parts that I ordered with it were faultless. I don't like "down time" and got the parts as a precaution! I live in Devon and all model shops that I know of have a high regard for Century UK. One, a friend of formed the famous Chivenor "22 rescue squadren", if it's good enough for him it's good enough for me. Probably not all joined up writing, but I hope the message got through!

[Mosser]

I came across this whilst google searching the gl450se and thought i would help out the UK peeps by saying that the Century GL450SE helicopter, is actually the CopterX 450SE V2 distributed under special license between copterx and centuryuk in the UK only

see www.copterx.com (http://www.copterx.com) , they are the manufacturer of the century GL450SE, and most parts are actually a higher quality than the Align T-rex 450SE V2 !!

If you are looking for spares, the best and cheapest place is http://www.ehirobo.com/shop/index.php but 98% of the parts are directly interchangeable with the Align T-rex, and spares are readily available for this heli pretty much everywhere in the world

Hope this info helps the UK people out, and satisfys the curiosity of the americans here :)